It's a bit odd that it took this long for Volvo, purveyors of automotive boxiness, to dabble with the rectangular, family-friendly minivan layout. The new Volvo EM90 leverages the Swedish automaker's position under the Geely corporate umbrella, sharing a platform and powertrain with the electric China-only Zeekr 009 while replacing that car's brutalist look with a smoother, more tranquil design and, of course, a focus on safety.
The EM90 has a chunky resemblance to its Zeekr cousin but features subtler details. Volvo's customary "Thor's hammer" headlights sit high and wide, presiding over a large flat face decorated with ornate LEDs and an illuminated Volvo logo. The rear features vertically oriented taillights and a full-width light bar that includes a lit-up Volvo script, and the EM90 rides on 19- or 20-inch wheels.
Volvo describes the EM90 as a "comfortable living room on the move," so don't expect nimble handling. Unlike the dual-motor 536-hp Zeekr, the EM90 makes do with just one rear-mounted electric motor producing 268 horsepower. This will see the rear-wheel-drive minivan dawdle to 62 mph in a claimed 8.3 seconds, versus the Zeekr's 4.5-second dash.
The Volvo packs a 116.0-kWh battery also found in the Zeekr, although the 009 can be upgraded to a 140.0-kWh unit. Volvo claims a 459-mile range on China's test cycle, an improvement on the Zeekr's 436-mile rating. Volvo claims the EM90 can recharge from 10 to 80 percent in less than half an hour and the battery can be used to provide juice to other cars and electronic accessories.
